The Doll by Bolesław Prus – Volume I, Chapter 11 | C1 English Audiobook with Text 🎧

🎧 Practise this chapter interactively – speaking, shadowing and vocabulary exercises – in our free web app: 👉 https://zagrosze.com/english Episode 11 of "The Doll" (Lalka), the great Polish novel by Bolesław Prus (1890), told in rich C1 (Advanced) English. Listen, read along and follow the red line under every word. 📖 Volume I, Chapter 11: "Old Dreams and New Acquaintances" Madam Meliton, a matchmaker who has learned from a hard life to despise accepted opinions, sells Wokulski information about Miss Izabela and tells him that women are won by strength, not by sacrifices. He tears up Mr Łęcki's promissory notes in front of her, then waits feverishly for the days when the ladies walk in Łazienki. On the day of a walk that might bring him closer to Miss Izabela, the Prince arrives and carries him off to a session of gentlemen, where counts and a Marshal promise money for his company. Afterwards the young inventor Julian Ochocki, Izabela's cousin, walks with him, talks of flying machines and asks him two painful questions. Wokulski ends the evening in dark despair, comparing himself with this rival and even thinking of suicide. Can he really compete with a man who is younger and cleverer? ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Madam Meliton's hard life 4:32 Wokulski tears up the notes 7:43 Waiting for the walk at Łazienki 11:40 News of a walk with Mrs Zasławska 15:14 The Prince interrupts 17:42 Portrait of the Prince 25:24 The Prince's session begins 31:16 Wokulski presents the company 40:39 The gentlemen offer money 45:45 Wokulski meets Ochocki 56:44 Ochocki's two questions 1:00:52 Ochocki's flying machine 1:05:04 Wokulski judges himself 1:10:24 Ragged men in the dark 🔑 Key Vocabulary (C1) • governess – a woman who teaches children in their home • tutor – a private teacher • promissory notes – written promises to pay money later • remuneration – payment for work or a service • presentiment – a feeling that something is about to happen • aphorism – a short, wise saying • chauvinist – a person with extreme and aggressive pride in his own country • zealous – very eager and full of enthusiasm • benevolence – kindness and a wish to help others • clodhopper – a clumsy, uneducated country person • conciseness – saying a lot in few words • floridly – in a showy, over-decorated way • intruder – someone who comes where he is not wanted • throttled – killed by pressing the throat • eccentric – strange or unusual in behaviour • unstrung – very nervous and upset • garrulity – the habit of talking too much • eloquence – skilful and powerful speaking • candid – honest and direct • haggard – looking tired, thin and ill • oblivion – the state of being completely forgotten • impetus – the force that makes something move faster • disillusioned – disappointed after learning the truth • cynical – believing that people act only for selfish reasons • moralising – talking about right and wrong in a preaching way • mediation – help in arranging something between people • naivety – lack of experience, believing too easily • infallible – never wrong • ironclad – an old warship covered with iron plates • fetters – chains that tie a person's feet • conspiracy – a secret plan made by a group, often against someone • percale – a fine, smooth cotton cloth • consolation – comfort given after a loss 💬 Useful phrases • "I have grown wise" – Madam Meliton • "A pity about you, sir." – Madam Meliton • "I am monumentally stupid" – Wokulski • "Haven't you ever thought of flying machines?..." – Ochocki • "Madman or genius?..." – Wokulski 🚀 How to learn with this episode 1. Watch once and just enjoy the story. 2. Notice conditional sentences: "If I were the supreme judge" and "I would marry her if I were certain I should do nothing more in science". 3. Stop after a sentence and repeat it aloud (shadowing). 4. Do the exercises for this chapter at https://zagrosze.com/english 📚 About the series • Book: The Doll (Lalka) by Bolesław Prus, 1890 (public domain) • Level: CEFR C1 (Advanced) – watch the chapters in order in our playlist! • Narration: AI-generated voice (Kokoro TTS) chosen for clear pronunciation; text adapted for learners 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss Chapter 12 – make English part of your daily routine! #LearnEnglish #EnglishAudiobook #C1English #GradedReader #LearnEnglishThroughStories #EnglishListening #Shadowing #TheDoll #BolesławPrus